Plans to restore Fort King unveiled

FILE- Elza Brea reads the Fort King National Historic Landmark Monument during the monument dedication ceremony at 3925 Fort King Street in Ocala on July 1, 2008. The monument recognizing the historic site is located on the former McCall family homestead.

Erica Brough/Staff Photographer

By Carlos E. MedinaCorrespondent

Published: Thursday, January 17, 2013 at 9:04 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, January 17, 2013 at 9:04 p.m.

The history of Fort King is not just important to the founding of Ocala and Marion County. Neither does its history stop with it being the early hub of the Florida territory's defenses and commerce, which eventually led to statehood.

At its core, as the central fort during the Second Seminole Indian War, Fort King is among the most important forts in American history, according to Morrey Deen, president of the Fort King Heritage Association.

Deen, along with several of the association's board members, on Thursday unveiled their initial plans for restoring the original site of the fort.

The meeting, held at the historic Ocala Train Station at 531 NE First Ave., drew about two dozen people. Many were residents of neighboring property near the fort site , which is located in the area of the 3900 block of Northeast Fort King Street.

The Fort King Heritage Association was formed in 2011 and is working in partnership with the city of Ocala and the Marion County Commission, which each own part of the 37-acre site.

The association is trying to accomplish a goal that has proved elusive for decades: to transform the property into a living monument of what it was.

"I grew up not far away from the property. I never had any idea the richness of the history of the area. I have learned a lot recently and am learning more every day," Deen said.

The fort, a wooden structure originally built in 1827, was significant to early settlers as protection and a source of income. It was among the major military assets during the Second Seminole War in the late 1830s, and it was where Seminole leader Osceola was imprisoned.

The fort also was at the center of the decision in 1845 to grant Florida statehood thanks to the system of roads that had grown out of its central location and reached both coasts. It even served as Marion County's first courthouse after establishment in 1944.

"One of the things I hate is we have not been able to take this and let our community know how rich our heritage is," Deen said. "We have kids who go to a school called Fort King and another school called Osceola, and I bet you if you go ask 50 of them if they know anything about either one of them, they couldn't tell you the first thing. That's a shame."

Deen said he hopes to take the case for the site to the community, in a similar fashion to what he did with the Ocala Honor Flights. He plans on asking for help and donations from individuals, businesses and community organizations.

But first, the association must get approval from the county and city for the first phase of the project, which calls for opening an entrance to the property adjacent to an area that has a monument honoring the approximate area of the fort's cemetery.

The road would lead to a future parking lot and small docent's building. An approximately 1-mile-long trail will run around the perimeter of the property.

Informational kiosks will be located along the trail and will allow visitors to use their smartphones to access information and multimedia content.

The ultimate goal, however, is to build a replica of the fort. There are several historic drawings of what the structure looked like. and archeologists have pinpointed the original location of the fort.

Future plans also call for setting up an area where battle re-enactments can be held and setting up an outbuilding from the fort near where early entrepreneurs plied their trades and sold their wares.

"Hopefully, we can get to a point where we can restore the fort in about five or six years. This is going to take some time, but we're ready for it," Deen said.

The initial plans are expected to go before the city and county in March, and the site is expected to open to the public before the end of the year.

Just before the meeting ended, Deen put out a basket and asked for donations from the crown. At least $25 was pitched in as the crowd left.

"My mom and dad both wanted to save that property. Now we're in a spot where the only thing holding us back is money," said Bill McCall, whose parents Dr. Wayne and Catherine McCall bought the property in 1947. Catherine McCall eventually sold the property to the county in 2001.

The National Park Service designated the site as a national historic landmark in 2004.

<p>The history of Fort King is not just important to the founding of Ocala and Marion County. Neither does its history stop with it being the early hub of the Florida territory's defenses and commerce, which eventually led to statehood.</p><p>At its core, as the central fort during the Second Seminole Indian War, Fort King is among the most important forts in American history, according to Morrey Deen, president of the Fort King Heritage Association.</p><p>Deen, along with several of the association's board members, on Thursday unveiled their initial plans for restoring the original site of the fort.</p><p>The meeting, held at the historic Ocala Train Station at 531 NE First Ave., drew about two dozen people. Many were residents of neighboring property near the fort site , which is located in the area of the 3900 block of Northeast Fort King Street.</p><p>The Fort King Heritage Association was formed in 2011 and is working in partnership with the city of Ocala and the Marion County Commission, which each own part of the 37-acre site.</p><p>The association is trying to accomplish a goal that has proved elusive for decades: to transform the property into a living monument of what it was.</p><p>"I grew up not far away from the property. I never had any idea the richness of the history of the area. I have learned a lot recently and am learning more every day," Deen said.</p><p>The fort, a wooden structure originally built in 1827, was significant to early settlers as protection and a source of income. It was among the major military assets during the Second Seminole War in the late 1830s, and it was where Seminole leader Osceola was imprisoned.</p><p>The fort also was at the center of the decision in 1845 to grant Florida statehood thanks to the system of roads that had grown out of its central location and reached both coasts. It even served as Marion County's first courthouse after establishment in 1944.</p><p>"One of the things I hate is we have not been able to take this and let our community know how rich our heritage is," Deen said. "We have kids who go to a school called Fort King and another school called Osceola, and I bet you if you go ask 50 of them if they know anything about either one of them, they couldn't tell you the first thing. That's a shame."</p><p>Deen said he hopes to take the case for the site to the community, in a similar fashion to what he did with the Ocala Honor Flights. He plans on asking for help and donations from individuals, businesses and community organizations.</p><p>But first, the association must get approval from the county and city for the first phase of the project, which calls for opening an entrance to the property adjacent to an area that has a monument honoring the approximate area of the fort's cemetery.</p><p>The road would lead to a future parking lot and small docent's building. An approximately 1-mile-long trail will run around the perimeter of the property.</p><p>Informational kiosks will be located along the trail and will allow visitors to use their smartphones to access information and multimedia content.</p><p>The ultimate goal, however, is to build a replica of the fort. There are several historic drawings of what the structure looked like. and archeologists have pinpointed the original location of the fort.</p><p>Future plans also call for setting up an area where battle re-enactments can be held and setting up an outbuilding from the fort near where early entrepreneurs plied their trades and sold their wares.</p><p>"Hopefully, we can get to a point where we can restore the fort in about five or six years. This is going to take some time, but we're ready for it," Deen said.</p><p>The initial plans are expected to go before the city and county in March, and the site is expected to open to the public before the end of the year.</p><p>Just before the meeting ended, Deen put out a basket and asked for donations from the crown. At least $25 was pitched in as the crowd left.</p><p>"My mom and dad both wanted to save that property. Now we're in a spot where the only thing holding us back is money," said Bill McCall, whose parents Dr. Wayne and Catherine McCall bought the property in 1947. Catherine McCall eventually sold the property to the county in 2001.</p><p>The National Park Service designated the site as a national historic landmark in 2004.</p>